Calling all parents and Child care workers...

dubgirl

I would agree with the other posts - it is about gut instinct and the vibes you get from the staff. visit as many as you possible can. You will know whether the staff are genuinely interested in the children and their care. Also make sure you can look everywhere - one nursery I looked at wouldnt let me look in the rooms (which were empty at the time) where the babies sleep - made me a bit suspicious!

shamu95

Hi, I would say gut instinct everytime. I put my kids in nursery for socialising. Yet i was never allowed to stay with them and the kids would be crying when i dropped them off. The staff were all longserving but felt there way right for everything and weren't interested in parental opinions. However all reports were excellent.
Ofcourse i pulled kids out-wish i had gone with instinct

SarahNeedle1872

Thanks, I'm only really doing it for the social aspect, hence only one or two days per week. If it doesn't work out, I will serioiusly have to review my options.
Thanks everyone for your opinions so far!

Sarah x

Seaxwyn

HI Sarah

Good luck with what is a very difficult decision.

I went on gut instincts and sent my kids to childminders. I only ever visited one nursery, and perhaps it wasn't representative, but I hated the 'institutional' feel. Although it was well equipped and well spoken of, on my visit I didn't see any of the staff really engage with the children. And I did see the manager/owner pick up a child and change her nappy without even once making eye contact with her or speaking to her - all the time she was talking to me about their wonderful 'key worker' policies.

The childminders I used all had their drawbacks, but at least they had a relationship with the children in their care rather than chatting to other adults over their heads.

Go with your gut feeling - certainly prepare questions to ask, but keep your eyes and ears open while you're there and don't dismiss any instinctive niggles.

trinidadone

sarah, did you sort out your childcare? I use to be a area manager for a chain of early years centres for a local authority, so if you still need advise on what questions to ask, or what to look for, plze come back.

rachnbri

Seaxwyn wrote: »

HI Sarah

Good luck with what is a very difficult decision.

I went on gut instincts and sent my kids to childminders. I only ever visited one nursery, and perhaps it wasn't representative, but I hated the 'institutional' feel. Although it was well equipped and well spoken of, on my visit I didn't see any of the staff really engage with the children. And I did see the manager/owner pick up a child and change her nappy without even once making eye contact with her or speaking to her - all the time she was talking to me about their wonderful 'key worker' policies.

The childminders I used all had their drawbacks, but at least they had a relationship with the children in their care rather than chatting to other adults over their heads.

Go with your gut feeling - certainly prepare questions to ask, but keep your eyes and ears open while you're there and don't dismiss any instinctive niggles.

I chose a childminder over a nursery for my boys when I returned to work and would make the same choice 100 times over. When they went to her my boys were 1 & 5, they're now 6 & 10. Would they still be able to got to a nursery at this age - NO. I wanted a family setting for them and that's what I got. My eldest has become best friends with my childminders youngest - sleepovers at mine, sleepovers at hers. Me and my childminder have become good friends and have nights out together. My boys have basically gained a more extended family. I can go to work knowing that my children are being looked after by someone who really loves them, without making me uncomfortable. And because of the relationship they've built my boys will still go there during the summer when they're too old for childcare but too young to be left alone.

The only drawback is sickness - my childminder was recently seriously ill in hospital. Wasn't much of an issue for me in terms of childcare as I work for a very family friendly employer and my mum is also off work at the moment so was around to help out. However, had my situation been different it could have been very hard work.

SarahNeedle1872

Lee_Dunford wrote: »

sarah, did you sort out your childcare? I use to be a area manager for a chain of early years centres for a local authority, so if you still need advise on what questions to ask, or what to look for, plze come back.

Not yet, my first visit is on Tues, so I'll def be back with questions afterwards. Thanks

dreamer999

Hi Sarah

My children (3 and 7) both go to a childminder 2 days a week when i'm at work. My youngest has gone since he was 6 months old. For us a childminder suited our needs better. IMO I felt they needed to be in a family environment at a young age. As they get older I wonder whether after school clubs might be more suitable. There are pros and cons to both. I am sure you will know from the minute you step in the door whether or not you and your child are going to be happy.

I think you mention in an earlier post that there are not many childminders in your area. In our area you can get a list from the local county council of all Ofsted registered childcare providers. Perhaps you have already done this.

Good luck on Tuesday.

SarahNeedle1872

I have found a list on the government website, but no one has places for under 3's - most only take school age children anyway. I am luck that it's only gonna be one or two days a week, as my OH works nights, and he will have him the 3 days he doesn't work. FIL has also said he wants him at least one day per week, I'm mainly doing it for the social aspect for my son.